Agriculture

The Wee Waa District is a major producer of a variety of agricultural commodities including cotton, wheat, beef cattle and sheep. These industries demand much support in terms of supplies, equipment, expert advice and labour provision. The interdependent relationships between farmers, graziers and business organizations provides the economic basis upon which the Wee Waa Community thrives.

Rural support services in the local area have resolved to set up a network to improve the delivery and effectiveness of support for the rural sector.

ABOVE: Cattle on the road near Pilliga.

The newly formed Rural Support Services Network (RSSNs) held its first meeting in Narrabri recently, with financial counsellors, Centacare representatives, landholders, government representatives and other organisations in attendance.

RSSNs are usually made up of local rural service providers including agribusiness and government, but also include interested landholders and representatives from community groups.

The network meets quarterly to discuss the needs of the local rural community with a view to working towards servicing these needs.

The meetings also allow for the sharing of information between service providers and the identification of any gaps in service delivery.

Narrabri Rural Financial Counsellor Fiona Mead said the first meeting of the Narrabri RSSN was an overwhelming success.

“We had 17 people at the meeting which was a great turn out, we plan on meeting every three months at this stage with the next meeting to be held in February,” she said.

Researchers from the University of Newcastle are currently seeking to interview local people within the Narrabri Shire about their attitude to changing land use.

Researchers from the University of Newcastle are currently seeking to interview local people within the Narrabri Shire about their attitude to changing land use.

The collaborative pilot project is run by both the University of Newcastle and the NSW Department of Primary Industries and will form part of a planned state-wide study exploring changing land use in rural and regional communities.

The NSW government asked IPART to undertake the review, under Action 12 of the NSW Gas Plan, to provide benchmark compensation rates for landholders who host gas exploration and production activities on their properties.